Glare preventive system



Feb. .21, 1939.` EQE. EMONS l 2,148,341

' l GLAR PREVENTIVE SYSTEM v Filed Aug. 5, 19:57 3 Sheets-sheet 1 Feb.21, 1939. EEMONS 2,148,341

GLARE PREvENTivE SYSTEM Filed Aug. 5, 19:7 s sheets-sheet 2 Feb. 21, 1939. A E. AMONS 4' 2,148,341

GLARE PREVENTIVE S YS TEM Filed Aug. 5, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 gmwbw 5f/V557 f. {Van/5,

Patented Pet. 21, 1939 l 2,148,341

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,148,341 GLARE PREVENTIVE SYSTEM Ernest E. Emons, Miami, Fla.

Application August 5, 1937, Serial No. 157,632

5 Claims. (Cl. Z110-8.11)

This invention relates to a glare preventive stood that changes, variations and modifications system for road vehicles of the automotive type may be resorted t Wh-iCh fall Within the Scope and has for its object to provide, in a manner of the invention as claimed.

as hereinafter set forth, for the use of bright In the drawingSI lights when travelling at night on a roadway Figure 1 is a fragmentary View, in Side eleva- 5 without blinding the driver 0f an oncoming vetio-n, of an automotive vehicle having installed hicle. therewith a lglare preventive system, in accord- A further object of this invention is to provide, ance With thiS inVentiOn, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a glare pre- Figure 2 iS a DOP plan 0f the Structure Shown in ventive system for road vehicles of the automo- Figure l, 10 tive type whereby the dimmer means generally Figures 3 and 4 are sections on lines 3-3 and used in connection with the headlights of the vel-il reSDeCtiVely 0f Figure 2, nicle is rendered unnecessary Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional View on line A further object of the invention is to provide, 5 5, Figure 1, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a glare pre- Figure 6 iS a detail Partly in Vertical SeCtiOn 15 ventive system for road vehicles of the automotive and in eleVatiOn taken 0u line 5-6 0f Figure '7, `type whereby bright light rays from the headn Figure 7- isa fragmentary View in side elevation, lights of the vehicle are conned to prevent the Figure 8 iS` a front eleVatiOn of the lens 0f a upward direction thereof and to cause them tc headlight, i extend forwardly, laterally, horizontally and Figure 9 iS a Section 011 line 99. Figure 8,

downwardly to obtain the full benet of all the Figure 19 iS a SeCtiOn Online lll-l0, Figure 3, useful light generated without glare or blinding Figure 11 iS a fragmentary VieW in tOp Plan 0f eect upon the eyes 0f the driver of an Oncomall automotive Vehicle ShOWIlg the adaptation ing vehicle. therewith of a modified form of glare preventive A further object oi the invention is to iiiumi- System in aoooldanoo with this invention. 25 nate the Sides of the vehjele by the use of the Figure 12 is a side elevation of the structure light source provided for forward illumination of ShOWn in Figure 11, the roadwayl Figure 13 is a fragmentary View in front ele- A further object of the invention is to provide Vation of the Structure Shown in Figure 11, a glare preventive system which permits of ,the Figure 14 is a SeGtOYl 011 line l4l4, Figure 30 use of lights of great candle power as well as fog 11, and penetration lampg Figure 15 iS a dlagramlllati VeW illustrating Another object of the invention is to provide the Projection 0f light raYS from a light Source a means for giving non-glare illumination of the and Showing the rays Which are deeted by the t roadway immediately forward of a-vehicle, which interCeptOrcan be fixed or set when the vehicle is built, so Referring t0` Figures 1 t0 10 of the drawings, 35 as to be permanently in adjustment I indicates the engine hood, 2 the forward side The invention further aims to provide for bright fenders and 3 the oowl of an automotive velight illumination forwardly and laterally of an hieie- `The hOOd aS iS usual in automotive veautomotive vehicle in a manner to prevent blindhiCleS tapers rOin rear t0 front and includes a ing effect relative to the driver of an oncoming Pair 0f OiiDOSitely diSDOSed hinged Sections 4 of vehicle thereby forming an element of safety like form. The cowl 3 in the outer face of each and preventing collisions side thereof is provided with a depression 5 closed A further object of the invention resides in at its rear end and having its forward end oponthe increasing and decreasing of the spread of ing at the forward end of the cowl. Each hood the iight rays, laterally with respect to the sides Sootion is of a Cross Section to form a pair of of the vehicle and the roadway at the sides of lees 6, 1 disposed at substantial right angles to the vehicle. each other. Normally the leg 6 is in the up- To the above ends essentially and to others standing position shown. The leg l is horizontali which may hereinafter appear, the system eenly disposed and extends inwardly from the upper 50 sists cf the novel construction, combination and end of leg 6. The leg l iS hinged as at 8. The arrangement of parts as will be Vmore specifically legs 6 form the upper portions of the sides of referred to and illustrated in the accompanying hOOd l- The lOWer portions of the Sides of hood drawings wherein are shown several embodi- I are stationary and indicated at 6a. When the ments of the invention. but it is to 4loe underlegs 6 are in upstanding position they seat on 55 portions 6a. Each leg 6, in its outer face and lengthwise thereof, is formed with a depression 9 of the same contour, in vertical section as that of the depression 5, as well as providing a continuation of the latter when leg 6 is in an upstanding position. The depression 9 opens at its rear end at the rear end of leg 6 and gradually decreases in cross sectional area from its inner to its outer end. The depression 9 is spaced from the top and bottom of leg 6 and includes a straight top wall ID, provided from a portion of the upper section of an intercepter to be referred to, a vertically disposed inner wall I I and an outwardly curved bottom wall I2. The walls Il, I2 are provided by an inset portion of the leg 6. The wall IIJ is integral with leg 6.

Extended in lateral relation with respect to the top of depression 9, the upper end of wall II and the portion of leg 6 forwardly of the depression 9 is an intercepter I3 of angled contour formed of an upstanding light rays cntrolling shutter I4 and a horizontally disposed light rays arresting member or upper section I5 extending inwardly from the top of shutter I4. The latter confines the lateral extension of the light rays from the side of the Vehicle to a point below the top of the engine hood. The member I5 is integral with and is bodily movable with leg 6. The inner portion of member I 5 provides the top wall I0 of depression 9. The member I5 arrests the upward extension of the light rays from a point below the top of the engine hood.

The intercepter I3 is a length to extend from the rear end to the forward end of leg 6. The shutter I4 is of right angled triangular contour and so disposed whereby it Will gradually decrease in width from its rear to its forward end. The inclined lengthwise edge of shutter I4 is hinged, as at I6 to the outer lengthwise straight edge of member I5. The latter gradually increases in width and inclines downwardly from its rear to its forward end. The distance of the lamp back from the front of the vehicle is preferably not less than three feet and the forward drop or downwardly slant of the member I5 from the lamp to the front of the car is preferably about one and one-half inches to the foot. The purpose of these distances and measurements is such that the interception of the Vlight rays will not be so great as to spoil the forwardly desired illumination of the road, and at the same time will be sufficient to prevent the glare of the light into the eyes of the driver of the oncoming vehicle. The shutter I4 is angularly adjustable relative to the outer lengthwise edge of member I 5. An adjustable latching member Il is carried by shutter I4 and extends through member I5. The latter carries a keeper I8 for coaction with member I'I for latching shutter I4 in normal vertical position and when shutter I4 is adjusted from normal.

Secured within each depression 5 and extending laterally therefrom is a headlight 20 having its forward end flush with the forward end of the depression 5.

The outer faces of the inner and bottom walls of the depressions 9, the inner faces of shutters I4, lower faces of members I5 and the outer faces of the legs 6 below members I5 are treated throughout, preferably with blacking material to provide non-reflecting light rays absorbing surfaces, as indicated at I9.

The side and bottom walls of the depressions 9 and the legs 6 below members I5 forwardly of depressions 9 prevent lateral glare.

The intercepter I3 provides a combined nonreflecting and light rays absorbing means acting to prevent the light rays from travelling upwardly from the headlights, to cause the light rays to extend forwardly, horizontally and downwardly and to obtain the full benet of all of the useful light generated without glare or blinding effect upon the eyes of the driver or an oncoming vehicle. The said means further functions to cause the light rays to illuminate the sides of the vehicle without an additional light source for such purpose, and also by the use of the same light source to provide for the illumination of the roadway forwardly of and laterally with respect to the vehicle. The said means acts as a dimmer and renders the use of other dimmer means unnecessary.

The lens of each headlight 2E) is indicated 2I and is of that type provided with prisms. The upper and lower portions of each lens are indicated 22, 23 and the central portion of the lens at 24. The portions 22, 23 are of like form and have the prisms 25 thereof oppositely disposed from the sides of the vertical median of the lens. The prisms 26 of the central portion 24 are uniform. The construction of the lens is such as to tend to deliver light rays in opposite directions.

The adjustability of the shutter I4 of the intercepter I3 provides for increasing and decreasing the spread of the light rays laterally with respect to the sides of the vehicle.

The lower or straight lengthwise edge of the shutter I4 aligns normally with the horizontal median of the lens and is termed a light control line parallel to the side of the hood.

With reference to the modified form of the system shown by Figures 1l to 14 the engine hood, forward side fenders and cowl of an automobile vehicle are indicated at 2l, 28, 29 respectively. The hood 2l includes a pair of oppositely disposed hinged sections 33 of like construction and of angled contour in cross section. The system as shown in Figures 11 to 14 have the headlights 3I disposed in lateral relation with respect to the sides of the cowl 29 and are carried by stationary brackets 32. In this modified form, the cowl 29 and sections 39 of the hood 2l are not formed with depressions as is the cowl 3 and hood sections 4. The hood 2l tapers from rear to front. ed form are of the same construction as the intercepters I3, but in lieu of being integral with the hood sections 30 each intercepter 33 is laterally supported from the stationary lower portion 333L of a hood side, below a section 30, by the coupling brackets 34 which are anchored to such lower portion and to the light rays arresting member 35 of intercepter 33. The adjustable glare controlling shutter of the intercepter 33 is indicated at 3G. The member 35 and shutter 36 are constructed and arranged relative to each other in the same manner as shutter I 4 and member I5 of intercepter I3. The intercepter 33 extends from a headlight 3| to the forward end of the hood side. That portion of each side of the hood 2l below the member 35 has its outer face formed in a manner to provide a non-reflecting light ray absorbing surface, as at 31, preferably by being blacked with a suitable substance. The lower face of member 35 and the inner face of shutter 36 are formed similarly throughout in the same manner to provide a non-reflecting light ray absorbing surface as at 38. The lens of each headlight 3| preferably will be similar to the lens 2I.

The interceptors 33 in the modit The intercepters 33 function in the same manner as the intercepters i3.

The interception of the light rays, both upwardly and downwardly to achieve the object of this invention is at a point to be referred to. To overcome the faulty light rays at present existing in automotive headlights, it is necessary to intercept certain rays, direct rays from the filament, irregular refracted rays from the bulb, irregular reflected rays from the reflector and the irregular refracted, reflected and diffused rays from the lens, and in order to correct this conglomeration of rays, it is necessary to condense all the light at a point not too great a distance from the lamp and with the light at such point to be intercepted by the intercepter. In the instant matter it is only necessary to consider two rays, after the light has been condensed, one directed down, the other up. These rays are intersected at the point referred to and no other point will answer. With reference to Figure 15 the bulb of the headlight is indicated at A, the reflector at B, the lens at C, a ray directed down at D, a ray directed up at E and the intersection between D, E, at F'. If ray D is intercepted before the point of intersection F, it will only effect the useful light G, but if ray E is intercepted at the top, as at H, beyond F, only the upperuseless and b-linding light will be effected. A horizontal line on a level with the center of the light is indicated at I. The intercepter from the top of lens C, should cut out or intersect line I beyond F at the greatest distance consistant with the distance between lens C and the forward end of the intercepter.

The shutter of the intercepter is adjustable, as at present various lighting requirement is had for the side of a car.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a vehicle body and an engine hood, a non-glare headlight system, including a pair of lamps and lenses therefor positioned rearwardly of and on opposite sides of said hood, the side walls of said hood adjacent the rear end thereof being formed with an elongated upper shield disposed substantially horizontal in transverse section and extending longitudinally of said hood, an inner shield extending right angularly downwardly from said upper shield, the lower rear portion of the surface of said inner shield merging with the side wall of said hood, and an outer shield secured at its upper end to said upper shield and depending therefrom, the lower edge of said outer shield terminating above the lower end of said inner shield whereby light rays from each lamp will be projected laterally and downwardly of said hood.

2. In combination with a vehicle body and an engine hood, a non-glare headlight system including a pair of lamps and lenses therefor positioned rearwardly of and on opposite sides of said hood, the side walls of said hood adjacent the rear end thereof being formed with an elongated upper shield disposed substantially horizontal in transverse section and extending longitudinally of said hood, an inner shield extending right angularly downwardly from said upper shield, the lower rear portion of said inner shield having a concave surface merging at its lower end with the side wall of said hood, and an outer shield secured at its upper end to said upper shield and depending therefrom, the lower edge of said outer shield terminating above the lower end of said inner shield whereby light rays from each lamp will be projected laterally and downwardly of said hood, the inner edge of said upper shield diverging forwardly from the outer edge thereof, the forward end of said upper shield terminating adjacent the forward end of said hood.

3. In combination with a vehicle body and an engine hood, a non-glare headlight system including a pair of lamps and lenses therefor positioned rearwardly of and on opposite sides of said hood, the side walls of said hood adjacent the rear end thereof being formed with an elongated upper shield disposed substantially horizontal in transverse section and extending longitudinally of said hood, an inner shield extending right angularly downwardly from said upper shield, the lower rear portion of said inner shield having a concave surface merging at its lower end with the side wall of said hood, an outer shield swingably secured to the outer longitudinal edge of said upper shield, the lower edge of said outer shield terminating above the lower i end of said inner shield whereby light rays from each lamp will be projected laterally and downwardly of said hood, and means at the top of the upper shield for holding the outer shield in adjusted position. l

4. In combination with a vehicle body and engine hood, a non-glare headlight system including a pair of lamps and lenses therefor positioned rearwardly of and on opposite sides of said hood,

the side walls of said hood adjacent the rear end thereof being formed with an elongated upper shield disposed substantially horizontal in transverse section and extending longitudinally of said hood, said upper shield being disposed at right angles to a side wall of said hood with the side wall connected to said upper shield in substantially the transverse center of the rear portion of the upper shield, an inner shield extending right angularly downwardly from said upper shield, the lower rear portion' of said inner shield having a concave surface merging at its lower end with the side wall of said hood, and an outer shield secured at its upper end to said upper shield and depending therefrom, the lower edge vof said outer shield terminating above the lower end of said inner shield whereby light rays from each lamp will be projected laterally and downwardly of said hood.

5. In combination with a vehicle body and an engine hood, a non-glare headlight system, including a pair of lamps and lenses therefor positioned rearwardly of and on opposite sides of said hood, the side walls of said hood adjacent the rear end thereof being formed with an elongatedupper shield disposed substantially hori- Zontal in transverse section and extending longitudinally of said hood, an inner shield extending right angularly downwardly from said upper shield, the lower rear portion of said inner shield having a concave surface merging at its lower end with the sidewall of said hood, an outer shield depending from said upper shield, means hingedly securing said outer shield to said upper shield, and means carried by the upper shield and the outer shield for holding said outer shield in adjusted position.

ERNEST E. EMONS. 

